The Fruit of the Messianic kingdom
Notes
Transcript
8 “Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 11 Binding his donkey to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, And his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk.
There are some obvious metaphors in this passage, like so many throughout scripture.
But they enhance the understanding not obscure it.
“Judah is a lion’s whelp”
The lion of the tribe of Judah. How many times have we seen that just in revelation?
It is common throughout the scriptures and gives clarity to the passage.
Issac is saying here that Judah will just begin to develop as the tribe where the kings will come from.
“Binding His donkey to the vine, and His donkey’s colt to the choice vine”
The vine and choice vine are indications that His kingdom will be one of plenty, and that this plenty will over spill to everything.
His donkey and the colt being tied to it indicate that this will be the norm in His kingdom.
It’s also ironic that it clues the reader to other prophecies that deal with the triumphal entry of Messiah into Jerusalem.
“He washed His garments in wine, and His cloths in the blood of grapes.
The wine is red in this case, as is described in Prov 23:31.
We can see the imagery of the crucifixion in this passage, even though the context is not dealing with that.
This kind of figure of speech leads to better understanding when the prophecies are progressive in nature. They create for the student of the Word of God, those aha moments.
For us today, this passage is one of those gems that is prophetic to the day we celebrate - Palm Sunday, the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey, while the crowd hailed Him as the king the heir of David’s throne.
I. Is a Time of Rejoicing.
I. Is a Time of Rejoicing.
A. In total obedience.
A. In total obedience.
“… and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” Verse 10.
The obedience here speaks to the gathering of the faithful to Him.
I find it strange that even Christians today have little regard to obedience.
There are those infiltrating the church today, that would teach that God will accept you and your sin and want nothing more from you.
But, is this obeying the gospel?
Is premeditated or intentional sin excused by God? Some would have us believe it so.
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
In both of these passages, the context is dealing not with unbelievers, but believers.
I think to some extent, the church has made salvation cheap!
To be in Christ, is to live in a state of progressive holiness!
I should never be satisfied with my spiritual walk, because I am bing conformed to His image, day by day.
B. With wonder and amazement.
B. With wonder and amazement.
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He was met with a crowd honoring and hailing Him as the triumphal king.
It was surely a moment of amazement, and in fulfillment to Zechariah’s prophecy.
9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
It is the same when someone’s eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit and they trust in Christ.
II. Is an Age of Plenty.
II. Is an Age of Plenty.
A. The prosperity of His reign is experienced by all.
A. The prosperity of His reign is experienced by all.
One of the greatest blessings with Jesus’ kingdom is that it matters not who you are, of what class or status in life, how much money you have, or how intelligent you are.
All are filled and none go hungry.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
B. Its manifestation is realized both, spiritually and physically.
B. Its manifestation is realized both, spiritually and physically.
There can be no doubt that we will all realize the abundance of His inheritance and glory when we are in His presence around the throne of mercy.
Yet, there is the spiritual fulness now, that transcends all lack in this world.
It is not what I have, but who He is, that I have plenty.
Which brings me to this point:
C. It is already here.
C. It is already here.
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
His Kingdom is right here right now!
He is on the throne of my heart!
When He rode into Jerusalem, He rode into the gates of my hard heart!
And as the people cried “Hosanna to the Son of David”, I cry out now, “Bless is H who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest”.
Did you know that hosanna is an Aramaic word that means - Help, save, I pray? It is a liturgical term for praise.
How do we continue in this while living no differently than the world?
The real fruit of the kingdom is in us!